Des Browne: As part of our ongoing support to current operations. I am today announcing the formation of a temporary brigade headquarters to command UK forces in Afghanistan over the period October 2009 to April 2010. The brigade which will be known as 11 Light Brigade, will be formed from existing service personnel and will be based in Aldershot.
	The current deployment of UK troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led international security assistance force is planned until 2009, although we have always made clear that our commitment to Afghanistan is a long-term one. The precise size and duration of the UK military in Afghanistan will depend on a number of factors, including the ability of Afghan security forces to take greater responsibility for the security of their own country. However, to ensure that any forces we might deploy are properly prepared and commanded, it is necessary for the brigade headquarters to be established now. We will keep our planning assumption under review but currently we assess that this HQ would disband on its return from Afghanistan.

Meg Hillier: The Justice and Home Affairs Council will be held on 8 and 9 November 2007 in Brussels. My right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the Solicitor General of Scotland, Frank Mulholland, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Bridget Prentice, and I will attend on behalf of the UK.
	There will be a lunch before the start of the Council on 8 November for Interior Ministers, where the presidency is expected to report on the current work of the future group on home affairs. The Government would like to ascertain Slovenian plans for the group as the incoming presidency. My right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Scotland represents the Common Law Group of countries including the UK on this group.
	The Council will start with the Mixed Committee items also attended by Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. Among these will be reports on the state of play regarding biometric visas, common standards on returning illegally staying third country nationals, and the implementation of SISOne4all, SIS II and the SIS Communication Network. The Government remain keen for implementation of the Schengen Information System II to stay on timetable.
	The presidency is likely to put the data protection framework decision to a general approach on the articles and certain recitals. The Government support the proposed general approach.
	The main agenda will open with a discussion of chapters 2 and 3 of the draft Council decision on Europol. The Government support the proposed conclusion of negotiations of these two chapters, which deal with information processing systems and common provisions on information processing. The text offers a balance of giving Europol added flexibility enabling it to establish new data systems while at the same time providing limits on what can be stored and safeguards for the protection of personal data. The Government also support the proposal for the implementation plan, which has been developed at the request of the June JHA Council to set out the steps and timescales for the introduction of Community Financing for Europol from January 2010.
	The presidency is likely to seek a general approach on the Council decision implementing the Prüm arrangements for the exchange of data on fingerprints, DNA and vehicle registration. This instrument sets out the technical details to bring into operation the original Council Decision on Prüm, which was agreed in June. In parallel the presidency has sent the text of the Council decision to the European Parliament for an opinion to be delivered during the European Parliament plenary session on 9 and 10 April 2008.
	The proposal on Council decision on the improvement of cooperation between the special intervention units of the member states of the European Union in crisis situations is also likely to go to the Council for a general approach. This decision creates a framework for crisis intervention units from a given member state to provide assistance to other member states. The UK is supportive of this decision as it enables member states to receive assistance from other member states if they so require, although the UK does not envisage needing to use this agreement. The scheme is voluntary and places no obligation on member states to either request or provide assistance. The UK is able to provide assistance to another member state if it wishes to do so under this agreement. If we want to call on assistance from another member state for a foreign crisis intervention unit to exercise police powers here, we would need to make legislative changes to UK law. The European Parliament's opinion is also outstanding on this proposal and is expected after 15 January 2008.
	Two new draft directives on legal migration will be presented by the Commission. The first is for a new EU "Blue Card" scheme to attract highly skilled migrants. The second proposes a single application procedure for third country nationals entering the EU, combining separate applications for residency and the right to work into a single application. We will only opt-in to these directives if it is in the UK's national interest to do so and we judge them to be compatible with our points-based system for managed migration.
	Although the UK is not participating in the application of the draft regulation amending the common consular instructions, the UK has been involved in the discussions, particularly where they relate to biometric capture and age limits. The presidency noted that a number of key issues, which had been extensively examined at working party level, remained outstanding, and that further discussion with, among others, the European Parliament is necessary.
	The presidency will report on progress made in negotiations on the draft directive on common standards and procedures in member states for returning illegally staying third-country nationals. The Government made the decision not to opt in to this Directive shortly after it was issued in September 2005. The Scrutiny Committees of both Houses agreed with that decision. Negotiations in the Council have been lengthy and the first reading has not yet been completed. There are a number of outstanding issues unresolved. The content of the draft directive has not changed sufficiently for the Government to reassess the original decision not to opt-in.
	The presidency will report back on the Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs that took place in Brdo in October. They will also announce the EU-LAC (Latin America and Caribbean) seminar on migration.
	The presidency also wants to obtain agreement on the proposed directive on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters. The Government support this proposal. It believes this type of citizen focused practical measure demonstrates the value of European co-operation in this field. By promoting the use of mediation to settle cross-border disputes this instrument will be of benefit to Europe's citizens and businesses.
	A debate is also scheduled on certain aspects of the proposed Council framework decision on the recognition and supervision of suspended sentences, alternative sanctions and conditional sentences.
	The presidency has stressed the importance of implementing the Council of Europe Convention and it is hoped that the Council conclusions on Cybercrime will be agreed at this Council. The Government agree on the need for co-operation with non-EU states, and fully support the Council of Europe Convention.
	It is also hoped that Council conclusions on trafficking in human beings will be adopted. The Government welcome renewed activity in the European Commission on human trafficking.
	The Council will conclude with a lunch for Justice Ministers to discuss the outcome of the European Court of Justice's decision in the "Ship Source Pollution" case. The Government welcome the clarification which this judgment has provided.

Harriet Harman: Listed below are those bills which the Government intend to bring forward. Details of each of these bills are available from the Leader of the House of Commons website www.CommonsLeader. gov.uk/Legislation
	1) Banking
	2) Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Supplementary Provisions)
	3) Children and Young Persons
	4) Climate Change
	5) Counter Terrorism
	6) Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts
	7) Education and Skills
	8) Employment
	9) Energy
	10) European Communities (Finance)
	11) European Union Reform Treaty
	12) Health and Social Care
	13) Housing and Regeneration
	14) Human Fertilisation and Embryology
	15) Local Transport
	16) National Insurance Contributions
	17) Pensions
	18) Planning Reform
	19) Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions
	20) Sale of Student Loans
	Draft Bills
	1) Apprenticeship Reform
	2) Citizenship and Immigration
	3) Constitutional Renewal
	4) Cultural Property (Armed Conflict)
	5) Heritage Protection
	6) Marine
	7) Marine Navigation and Port Safety
	Carry Over Bills
	1) Crossrail
	2) Child Maintenance and Other Payments
	3) Criminal Justice and Immigration

Des Browne: The Third Session UK legislative programme unveiled in the Queen's Speech on 6 November contains significant measures of relevance and benefit to the people of Scotland.
	The Government are committed to continuing to deliver improvements to the lives of people across Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
	The following is a summary of the legislation announced in the Queen's Speech and its impact in Scotland. This does not include draft Bills. The Bills listed in section 1 are not likely to contain provisions requiring the consent of the Scottish Parliament as the legislation is predominantly or wholly within a reserved area. Section 2 details Bills that are likely to contain provisions that require the consent of the Scottish Parliament in line with the Sewel Convention. A brief description is provided of the provisions likely to require consent. Section 3 details Bills that predominantly applies to England and Wales only whilst also containing some significant reserved provisions which will have an impact in Scotland. The Bills listed in section 4 predominantly apply to England and Wales only and will have limited impact in Scotland.
	The list also identifies the lead Government Department:
	1. UK legislation a wholly or predominantly reserved area, unlikely to contain provisions requiring the consent of the Scottish Parliament at Introduction
	The Bills in this section which deal with predominantly or wholly reserved matters are detailed below. Discussions will continue between the Government and the Scottish Executive to ensure that if provisions relating to matters which trigger the Sewel Convention are included, the consent of the Scottish Parliament will be sought for them:
	Banking (HMT)
	Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Supplementary Provisions) (Department for Transport)
	Child Maintenance and Other Payments (Department for Work and Pensions)
	Counter-Terrorism (Home Office)
	Crossrail (Department for Transport)
	Employment (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
	Energy (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
	European Communities (Finance) (HMT)
	European Union Reform Treaty (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)
	Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Department of Health)
	National Insurance Contributions (HMT)
	Political Party Funding and Expenditure (MOJ)
	Pensions (Department for Work and Pensions)
	2. Legislation likely to contain provisions requiring the consent of the Scottish Parliament at Introduction:
	Discussions will continue between the Government and the Scottish Executive on Bills that might include provisions that trigger the Sewel Convention. The Bills identified within the Queen's Speech in this section are as follows:
	Climate Change (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Legislation relating to Climate Change is likely to include provisions in devolved areas to meet the new emissions target. The environment is a devolved matter in Scotland.
	Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts (HMT) Scottish Ministers will be provided with a power in this Bill to distribute funds drawn from dormant bank accounts - Welsh and Northern Irish Ministers will also have similar powers. This will enable Scottish Ministers to direct spending priorities for their share of these assets in Scotland.
	Education and Skills (Department for Child, Schools and Families) Education is a devolved matter but the Bill is likely to include provisions relating to data sharing that extend to Scotland to allow access to longitudinal surveys. This will enable assessments to be made on wage impact of education and training provisions.
	Health and Social Care Bill (Department of Health) Health is a predominantly devolved matter, but the Bill will contain provisions relating to the regulation of health care professions; where the regulation of particular professions is devolved, the consent of the Scottish Parliament is required in order to produce a consistent and fair system across the UK for healthcare professionals.
	3. Legislation that predominantly applies to England and Wales only whilst also containing some significant reserved provisions which will have an impact in Scotland.
	Criminal Justice and Immigration (Ministry of Justice)
	Local Transport (Department for Transport)
	Planning Reform (Department for Communities and Local Government)
	Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
	4. Legislation that predominantly applies to England and Wales only or which will have a limited impact in Scotland
	Children and Young Persons (Department for Child, Schools and Families)
	Housing and Regeneration (Department for Communities and Local Government)
	Sale of Student Loans (HMT)

Peter Hain: I am pleased to inform the House that the Queen's Speech on Tuesday 6 November unveiled the Government's Third Session legislative programme which contains 11 bills with Welsh Provisions.
	There will be three Bills with framework provisions for Wales:
	Education and Skills Bill
	Local Transport Bill
	Planning Bill
	Further information on these provisions will be made available as the provision is introduced.
	There are currently a further eight Bills in the programme which may contain specific provisions for Wales, which will generally be provisions to confer the same powers on Welsh Ministers, in devolved areas of responsibility, as are being conferred on UK Ministers in those areas in relation to England. These are:
	Health and Social Care Bill
	Sale of Student Loans Bill
	Children and Young People Bill
	Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill
	Climate Change Bill
	Energy Bill
	Housing and Regeneration Bill
	Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill
	The Government are committed to delivering devolution and this session, the first since the Government of Wales Act 2006 has come into effect, will see a record number of proposals for legislative competence to be transferred from Westminster to the National Assembly for Wales, both through framework powers, and by using the new Order in Council process. This marks a coming of age of devolution in Wales, with the Assembly being given the law-making power it needs to properly implement its own policies for the benefit of the people of Wales.